The Government cannot remove encroachments from Grama Natham land it does not own.

The petitioner sought a mandamus directing the revenue authorities to remove alleged encroachments by private respondents from land in Old Survey No. 345/24 and New Survey No. 466/24, measuring 0.64.5 ares (1 acre and 59 cents), at Villachery Village, Madurai West Taluk.

The State submitted that, on verification of the revenue records, the land was classified as “Grama Natham,” not Government Poramboke.

1. Whether the authorities could be directed to remove the alleged encroachments when the land was classified as Grama Natham rather than Government Poramboke

2. Whether the petitioner was entitled to a writ of mandamus for removal of the alleged encroachments

The Court relied on the Larger Bench decision in Kannan @ Kamatchi (Died) v. The District Collector, Dindigul District, W.P.(MD) Nos. 19720 of 2017 etc., decided 6 March 2026.

As stated by the Court, where land is classified as Natham land, the Government is not its owner and has no authority to remove encroachments from it.

No statute was cited in the order.

The State’s submission that the land was recorded as Grama Natham, rather than Government Poramboke, brought the case within the principle stated in the Larger Bench decision.

Since the Government was not the owner of Natham land and lacked authority to remove encroachments from it, the Court declined to direct the respondents to remove the alleged encroachments.

No costs were awarded.